But the former Liverpool FC boss says ultimately it is down to the Italian striker if his stay at Anfield is to become a success.

Evans was encouraged by Balotelli’s debut at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and believes the 24-year-old has the potential to become a “great asset” for Rodgers’ side. And Evans wants to see the £16m forward given the chance to prove his doubters wrong.

The ex-Liverpool player and manager, speaking at the unveiling of a new piece of art in Scotland to commemorate Bill Shankly, brought the mercurial Stan Collymore to Anfield in 1995.

Roy Evans

Collymore struck 35 times in 81 matches for the Reds and after leaving Anfield in 1997 no other manager was able to get such a goals return from him, as Evans had done.

Fast-forward almost two decades and Liverpool are now trying to coax the best out of unpredictable Balotelli but Evans is confident Rodgers will do the trick.

“Mario Balotelli did his fair share against Tottenham and won’t ever miss three chances like that again,” Evans said. “He is certainly going to be an asset for us and even though all the talk is going to be about his past, we have just got to let the lad get on with it.

“Brendan Rodgers did things with Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard is another who is good at talking to players. But the main person in all of this is Mario himself. He needs to make sure he keeps his nose clean.

“It is very easy for people to be on his back 24-7 but maybe we need to give him some lee-way. He has got great talent and could be a real asset.”

Evans added: “He is still a young lad and many of us have done daft things when we were young.

“But he is an experienced player now and somewhere along the line he has got to play. But we need to give him a little bit of a chance.”

Balotelli lasted 60 minutes on his debut at White Hart Lane as Liverpool responded to a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City with a stylish victory.

Goals from Raheem Sterling, Gerrard and new left-back Alberto Moreno struck to hand the Reds their second win of the new campaign.

Despite the set-back at the Eithad Stadium, Evans is happy with Liverpool’s start to the season.

“I have been pleased with Liverpool’s start to the season and it was important to go to Tottenham and win on Sunday,” Evans said. “They played reasonably well for 40 minutes at Manchester City but they gave the goal away and once you go behind there, they have the know-how and quality to punish you.

“So I was pleased with the win on Sunday. There were still a few mistakes at the back but overall I loved our attacking side and I really liked the way the two full-backs played.”

He added: “You are never going to replace Luis Suarez because of his ability. He was a different class and I wish him well but what Brendan has done is get the players to do things differently.

“And from what I’ve seen so far, I am pleased with the new signings.

“I’ve not seen much of Lazar Markovic yet but people in Portugal tell me he is a great talent. And with being back in the Champions League, we need a squad that can carry us through the season.”

Evans, like most Liverpool fans, is excited about the draw for the Reds’ return to Europe’s top table.

Rodgers’ side are in Group B alongside Basel. Ludogorets Razgrad and defending champions Real Madrid.

“It is a great draw,” Evans buzzed.

“Absolutely fantastic, both for the fans and the club. I feel there is a good chance to get out of the group with the games against Basel and Ludogrets. I don’t know how the games with Real are going to go but they will be great fixtures.”

The man who brought Liverpool their first European trophy – the 1973 UEFA Cup – was remembered in his homeland yesterday.

Shankly would’ve been 101 and in Muirkirk, a special piece of artwork was unveiled to commemorate him.

Evans was in Scotland to remember his former manager.

“Bill signed me as a player – I didn’t many games mind,” Evans said with a laugh. But to try and get in that ‘65 team was very difficult.”

He added: “The club had enjoyed success before he came but Liverpool went from strength to strength and it was followed up by Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan. He was the man that started it all.

“When you become manager you do try and remember the things that he did and the way he worked. You could never try and emulate him though because he was a one-off. He was a great man and even now, when you see him on television and hear him speak, it still makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. His philosophy about football, that simplicity is genius, and he was the sort of man that could make you feel 10ft tall and two inches small in the same sentence.”